Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon Kookabarra 2026
See more about the offers- Next event : Sun, July 5, 2026Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, July 6, 2025
The event in a few words
This Provençal saying sets the tone, doesn't it? 🧐 Will you dare to come (or return) to tackle the slopes of the Giant of Provence? 🦶Like a solitary mountain, it stands there in the heart ❤️ of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ☀️, in the Vaucluse. This legendary, even mythical summit is highly appreciated by cyclists for its challenge, and it awaits you for the Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon Kookabarra ! 🏔
Are your legs tingling? 🦵 Then let's speak clearly! One single distance 👆, and not just any, on the program: 21.6 km and 1,610 mD+ 📈. It's a grueling ascent awaiting you, with average slopes at 7.5% and up to 11.5% 😮. You will have very little respite. You must have a strong heart ❤️🩹for a well-deserved finish! Moreover, we'll be in the middle of July, so it'll be really hot! 🥵 Don't forget to bring water and energy bars to avoid a hunger pang 🤒. But no regrets, because at the finish 🏁, there awaits you a breathtaking view and a chilled beer, even if you'll consume it in moderation! 🫵
Be careful ⚠️ to keep your feet on the ground, as the wind doesn't play around there: winds have been recorded at over 320 km/h! 🌬️And in 2016, the finish of Stage 12 of the Tour de France 🚴 had to be moved to 6 km from the summit due to powerful gusts! It blows you away 💆, a bit like a Christopher Froome acceleration! 😂 It's no wonder there's no greenery here, our good old Ventoux being totally bare of vegetation recolors it as the "Bald Mountain". Since you surely don't want to end up with the same nickname, think of your headgear 🧢 (especially your windbreaker) before you arrive, a cold catches easily 🤧. Above all, enjoy the natural scenery around you, here you have the chance to run in the midst of a Biosphere Reserve 🌿, designated by the UNESCO in 1990! Quite a privilege, don't you think 😄.
But the Vaucluse is also a typical Provençal department! 🌷Visit the little stone villages that will make you crazy 🤪 for its beauty. Le Baroux, Malaucène, or Buis-les-Baronnies, these villages are full of stone houses 🪨, with magnificent alleys surrounded by lavender fields 💜. The Roman bridge of Vaison-la-Romaine 🌉 does it ring a bell? Yes, located only 30 minutes from Mont-Ventoux, this city is known for its sublime atmosphere, but also for its colossal flood of 1992. With a river rise of over 17 meters high 🤯, it's a site not to miss! Aspeta! We forgot to talk about food🍴. In the South during summer, it's a feast for the eyes and palate 😍: check out the colors of la bohémienne, a true delicious rainbow 🤤. And even if it's not quite the season, a real homemade pistou soup 🍜 (not pesto 🤌) is impossible to decline! For a sweet note, Mont-Ventoux has its specialty! The Ventoulet, a little travel cake 🍰, with apricots and honey 🍯 perfect for a race snack! Otherwise, nothing beats a good Cavaillon melon 🍈 or some oreillettes, a delicious biscuit, bringing back childhood memories 🎀. You have plenty to enjoy after a colossal effort.
I hope your gear is ready, and your legs are sharp 🏃♀️, because the summit awaits you!
4 reasons to join this race
The message from the organizer Bertrand Delhomme:
Great surprises await, with a high-profile elite field, many activities in our partner village. The celebration promises to be wonderful, and we can't wait to see you there with the FINISHERS team, who will be present on site!"
The distance you'll all agree on
21.6 kmTOP
- Sunday, July 5, 2026
- Elevation gain : 1610mD+
- 1,000+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx21.6 km
A few more words
The start is in Bédoin, a charming village at the foot of Mont Ventoux, which itself is located at 1,912 m altitude. On the first part of the route (6 km with an average gradient of 4.5%), you will pass through the larch 🌳 forests that cover the lower part of the mountain up to the village of Saint-Estève. Cedars and firs 🌲 provide pleasant shade from the sun; perfect for a gradual warm-up 😉. Then you'll tackle the second part, the most challenging, up to Chalet Reynard with its average gradients of 9.4% 😅. Finally, you will be there: the last part, with its 6.5 km at 8%... A difficult and gradual section for a triumphant finish at the summit! 🙌
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Starting Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 12 PM to 7 PM, in the schoolyard of Bédoin (2 Place de la République, 84410, Bédoin) and on Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 6 AM to 7:30 AM.
The Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon will start on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 8 AM.
The race time limit is set at 3h40. Beyond that, arriving runners will not be ranked. Time limits will be specified on race day based on prefectural authorizations.
Additionally, there is a time limit at Chalet Reynard (km 15) for safety reasons. Participants have 2h30 to reach the refreshment point. The organization will remove the race bib of any participant who hasn't reached this stage within the time limit and declines all responsibility for runners wishing to continue.
Four refreshment points are spread along the course:
km 6: Liquid
km 11: Liquid and Solid
km 15 (Chalet Reynard): Liquid and Solid
km 18: Liquid
Finish: Liquid and Solid (+ a beer offered per participant)
You can drop off your belongings on Saturday, July 4, when collecting your race bib, or on Sunday, July 5, at least 1 hour before the race starts.
The bags will then be dropped off and retrieved at the finish line at the summit, in the dedicated area, upon presentation of the race bib.
Each participant will leave with a gift set when collecting their race bib and will receive a finisher medal after crossing the finish line.
Return buses are available at a cost of €5 (not included in the race registration), upon presentation of the bracelet provided during race bib collection. Booking a seat on the bus is mandatory to be able to board it.
They will bring the runners back to Bédoin. The buses will depart from the summit only when full and according to the timing linked to the progress of the race.
To register, the race bib price is set at €45, plus a €2 registration management fee.
You can choose the optional return shuttle for €5 to come back to Bédoin at the end of the race.
The race takes place in July, so prepare to run under intense heat. However, once you reach the top of the Mont, the wind blows. It is advisable to have a windbreaker.
The accommodation options are numerous, but you will need to plan your reservation to avoid being left without during a high-demand period. Find a list of accommodations nearby by clicking here.
No, a medical certificate is no longer mandatory to start.
The new PPS statement available here replaces it. This FFA Health Prevention Course must be completed within 3 months before the event (from 04/05/2026) and its number must be provided on the registration platform.
FFA licensees must provide their 2025-2026 Athletics License numbers.
For more information on the Health Prevention Course (PPS) we recommend this article.In case of cancellation, the organization will refund participants based on the expenses incurred by the association at that time. The refunded amount will be directly communicated to registered individuals.
A participant has the option to transfer their race bib to a close friend or return the bib to the organizer if they wish to cancel their participation.
This year, in case of unavailability, participants will have the opportunity to sell their race bib to a third party via an official, dedicated, and secure platform, which will be communicated shortly. Once the transaction is validated, the initial participant will receive a 95% refund of the race bib amount, excluding booking fees. From then on, they will no longer be considered registered and will not be able to participate in the event.
The date for the opening of race bib resales has yet to be announced. However, once this deadline is passed, no resale or refund can be made.
You can check the race rules here
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